Thondaradipodi Alvar

Thondaradipodi Alvar, one of the twelve Alvars, was born in Thirumandangudi, Tamil Nadu. Though born into a Brahmin family, he became a staunch devotee of Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam and considered service to devotees greater than rituals. He composed the Tirumaalai (45 verses) and Tirupalliyezhuchi (10 verses), filled with deep devotion and surrender. His hymns are part of the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. He is known for his humility and self-identification as the “dust under the feet of Vishnu’s devotees.” Keywords: Thondaradipodi Alvar, Tirumaalai, Tirupalliyezhuchi, Srirangam, Vishnu devotion, Tamil Alvar, Divya Prabandham, Vaishnavism.